Australia face an anxious wait over the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, with coach Andrew McDonald saying the fast bowler must resume bowling within the next 10 days to have any chance of featuring in the opening Ashes Test in Perth on 21 November.

Cummins has been out of action since July with a back injury and only recently returned to light running drills. McDonald said the medical team was encouraged by his progress but admitted the window to prepare for the first Test is closing fast.

“There’s still optimism, but he needs to start bowling soon,” McDonald said. “The main concern is making sure he’s ready for the demands of a five-Test series and not risking a soft-tissue setback by rushing.”

Should Cummins fail to recover in time, vice-captain Steve Smith is expected to lead the side, with Scott Boland likely to slot in alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the pace attack. McDonald added that the situation would become clearer next week once Cummins’s workload increases.

“He’s improved in recent days, which is a good sign,” the coach said. “But time is running out. We’ll have a firmer view once he’s back in the nets.”

Australia are determined to have their leader fit for the Ashes opener, but with just over a month to go, the race against the clock has well and truly begun.